Liquid treating apparatus



Sept. 20, 1955 W. J. HUGHES 2,718,496

LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l f'yu re l ib: n n Q 0/ l o Ll/dltc J. H h

lo] 15"/ l W26 BY l uy e5 B4-I g* W Agent Sept, 20, 1955 -w. J. HUGHES LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. lz/dlferJ'. Hujhes BY ft/47 Fijfure 3 United States Patent O LIQUID TREATIN G APPARATUS Walter J. Hughes, Tucson, Ariz., assignor to Intilco Incorporated, Tucson, Ariz., a corporation of Delaware Application September 18, 1951, Serial No. 247,069

Claims. (Cl. 210-16) This invention relates to an apparatus for slurry type liquid treatment. More particularly the invention relates to an apparatus wherein the principles of slurry type liquid treatment are adapted to a rectangular basin or tank. t

In slurry type liquid treating apparatus the incoming liquid and reagent are usually mixed and reacted with one another in a mixing and reaction zone in and with a slurry composed of solids accumulated from previously treated water and suspended in liquid undergoing treatment. In addition to a continuous circulation within the mixing and reaction zone, a portion of the slurry is continuously circulated out of the mixing and reaction zone, through a secondary reaction zone and a separation zone, and back into the mixing and reaction zone.

Clarification in such slurry type liquid treatment occurs either by upward filtration of liquid through a relatively quiescent suspension or blanket of slurry, or by dynamic separation from a owing stream of slurry. The rate of such dynamic separation of clariiied liquid from a flowing stream of slurry is substantially higher than can be ob'- tained by upward filtration through a slurry filter where the rate of rise is limited to that at which the lightest solid particles are no longer carried along by the rising liquid. The apparatus of this invention belongs to the type providing dynamic separation of clarified liquid from moving streams of slurry.

One of the important requisites of a slurry type liquid treatment is uniformity of mixing and circulation. Heretofore uniformity has been provided by use of a round or square basin with a rotor effecting circulation within a mixing and reaction zone under a centrally located'hood,

as well as a circulation leading out of the mixing and` reaction zone through passageways arranged concentrically with the tank and discharging radially outward over the outside of the hood and returning to the mixing and reaction zone radially inward. Rectangular tanks have not been used extensively for such slurry type -treatment due to the difficulties of providing uniformity'of mixing and circulation in an elongated area.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide means for effecting uniform mixing and'circulation in elongated tanks of any desired length.

Another object is to provide an apparatus whose dimensions can be standardized with regard to its vertical section, adaptation to different throughput capacities being provided solely by horizontal elongation of the 'standard ized design. p

A further object is to provide a double-sided apparatus of this general type which lends itself readily to operation of the two sides in parallel or in'sequence, or to entirely independent use of the two`sidesv.

Patented Sept. 20, 1955 ICC Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the description and claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a f Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view along line 3-Vv-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a one-sided apparatus according to the invention.

The tank 10 of Figures 1, 2 and 3 is of generally rectangular section in plan and has a rectangular bottom 1 1, vertically extending end walls 12 and 13, and upwardly and outwardly sloping side walls.14 and 15. The upper part 16 of the side walls 14 and 15 may be vertical, as shown. A vertical wall 20 divides the tank 10 into two equal parts or chambers 21-21. Since the two chambers 21 are identical, only one will be described in detail.

Each chamber 21 is provided with a launder 25, whose along the lower part of wall 20 and is provided with pickup openings such as 28 spaced along its length. A partition structure 30 extends the full length of the'chamber 21 from end wall 12 to end wall 13. The partition structure 30 includes a hood 31, formed by a plate 32 lsloping upwardly in opposite direction to the wall 14 toward the longitudinal axis of the tank and provided witha short vertical skirt 33; and a shorter plate 34 sloping from the upper end of plate 32 in the opposite direction, and also provided with a verticalskirt 35, as shown; a plate mem' ber 36 extending upwardly from the apex of the hood 31 to an elevation below the normal liquid level in the chamber 21, and a second vertical plate member 37 horizontally spaced from the rst plate member 36 and extending downwardly from the top of the tank to an elevation spaced above the sloping plate 32.

The partition structure 30 forms in the chamber 21a mixing and reaction compartment 40 under the hood 31, a secondary reaction compartment including an upow passageway o1' section 41 between the wall 20 and the plates 34 and 36, and a downow passageway or section 42 between the plates 36 and 37, and an outer separating compartment 43 of upwardly increasing'cross-sectional area between the inclined tank wall 14 or 15, respectively,

and the oppositely inclined plate 32. rI he skirt 33 forms with the tank wall 14 or 15, respectively, a relatively nar-V row inlet passageway orconduit 44 leading from the outer compartment 43 to the mixing and reaction com`V partment 40, and the skirt 35 forms withthe vertical wall 20 a relatively narrow outlet passageway 45 leading from the mixing and reaction compartment 40 under the hood to the upflow passageway 41. To regulate the quantity of ow through the outlet passageway 45 and passageways 41 and 42, the width of the outlet passageway 45 can be adjusted by positioning of a valve plate 46 which is pivotally mounted on the lskirt 35. Any suitable means for positioning the valve plate 46 may be provided, such as the bell crank and positioning rod shown.

Another` means for regulating the quantity of liow through passageways 41 and 42 is shown in Figure 3. A weir 48 is slidably connected to the platemember 36 and can be positioned verticallyl by any suitable means, such afname., I

as the rack and pinion shown, to vary the elevation of they. sub'iigeHoverv/"forn Vthe uptlw passageway 41 to the downow passageway 42.

A paddle reel 50 is mounted in axially offset position in the mixing and reaction compartment 40. The radial 5 blades 51 of reel 50 extend substantially for the full length of the compartment 40 and are supported at spaced points by sets of radial arms 52, each set being mounted on a Y hub 534k'eyed to ahorizontallydextending rotatable shaft 54;.fg0lviouslyg'itlre 'bl'adesjSll can be made"insections. v 'Iliiivexrend ofishaft`54rnay"extend through' one of" the end walls, as shown in Figure 2, or maybe insidethe compartment 40.. Suitable drive means are' 'connected to th sh'aff $4, such"as"th"e"` sproclet55,`whicli may bediiv'en by aisuitatt"n1otor;'notslrwn lo t6 be"tre'ted""an`d :Chemicals can be introduced in .diverse manner. lCoagulants will usually be mixed with theliiiuidbefore it enters tlie compartment 40'. Precipitating :orlsoftening reagents, such as lime, however, should be"miri'edwith"th`e 'liquid in' 'the presence of"`slrry. In 20 the embodiment, of. FigureA 1' the 'liqidg and4 chemical reagent-'are,botlvmixedwithslurryin the mixing and reagent:` compartment'"40jy Iiithis: embodiment theinlet. pipe"'56 orl'ithe liquidto'be .treated discharges into la, distrrbu "'n trough" or inlet duct 'S'Tfformed across the 2D ape'x oftlie'hood 3:14 by a oor 58. The oorSS is spaced frq'r'ri'tli pl'te 32to leave'a narrow slot 59'throughwhicl1 the'wt'rent'ers the compartment 40Y and is'uniformlydistributed"ovritsentie length; 60- is a` chemical inlet v heder"provided7witl slotted "discharge areas lsuch yas =61 Bolh: the raw w'at'erlinl'et duct lS7 and the chemical header. W discharge lin 'the direction of-theow created .byr` rotatidnf'f tlie'reel .50

lifthe'fiembo'diment ofI Figures 2 yand 3V thechemical reag'e" 'isfmied'with' slurry prior toits entering the 35 ingff"ndreacti'onfcompartment to prevent cloggingl of. the: ff icalfinlet' header -(il). l The reagent is'. introduced thro gli' a v"clie'rx'iic'zal"pipe 65 into a conduit 66.1eading1 fromvv the'y is'clia'rge .sidel of fa slrry pump 67, .which.has;its intlale: in'tle'npw passageway 41. Thus, chemical arid. slurryfare' Ywell-"mixed withone .another kas `they ilow tov.-v getier tlfo'glithe condnit`66 to a. trough 68. From thetr0'l1 `gl1".`68".'th`el iniri'ture of v'slurry and Areagent is discharged.. uniformly: tlirouglfa Vsuitablenurnber of 'spaced Vdowntake 69 fintomth'e ehfernical header 60, from which it is distri tedalong the mixing and reactionl compartmenti.

lWhen '.thetwo` chambers*V 21. are operated in parallel,` ai' raw liquid inlet trough common to fbothmay;be:used.,in+ stead ofthfseparate :inlet Vtrogughs-57iof Figure: v1.y Such a troughfis shown at70. in Figure?,.andimaybeintegralrt wtlrthedividingwall 1,20. Conduits-71` lead :from spaced points .on \bo,tli,.sidesv of the, bottom oflthetrough=70l1-andldischarge -to thetwo mixingaandrreaction compartments 2 21g- -21'jn the; directionof. circulation `oritheslurry therein f' Thismannerfof.introducing thevliquid to be* treatedlpror' videsnuniformdistribution.inv a tank of-any lengthf When" the; same chemical .reagent `is `used in fboth chambers-A21",`- the;construction shown =inFigures 2 and 3 canbefconsid" erably simplified*4 by omitting the troughs 68and" using 6 onlyionezslurry pump367, one chemical inletline-'65; and oneconduit discharginginto the inletend portion"offthe"* trough.. 70,A -wherereagent and slurry are mixed witlrthe" incomingliquid'f'y l Y j Onesor. moreopenftop solidsfconcentrators 75of conventionabconstruction are located in lthe 'lo'we`r-"portior`1`ot"l theou'te'r chamber,theirnumberarrd size being determined. bythefquality and 'quantity' of solids l'to' be'- thick'ened" therein".y Sludges"'discharged4` from each" concentrator thr'ougha sludgeoutlet conduit76i g The operation of xrthe apparatus' wilbereadily"y understood Thefreele/SO is"rotated"inthedirection indicated byfthe larrtn'ai/s, i." e: A upwardly adjacent th'e "wall 20 and"Y donivardly"-adjaeentfthefinclinediwall,32. YA's'slixrlirigthat th""appar'eiti's'l has'beei irioper'atin' for a v'time' sufcint 75 tok acctlrnulateua` slurry `illing the chamber 21 to the p re-A determined elevation of the upper slurry surface, rotation of the reel 50 causes a parallel, equalized rotation of slurry over the entire length of the compartment 40, the ow pattern being the same in each vertical plane and conforming substantially to the shape of the compartment. Liquid to be treated entering through duct 57 or conduits 71, and chemicals entering tlfrough duct 60 are immediately picked up by, and thoroughly mixed with, a large quantity of rotating slurry, and the reactions between the liquid and the reagent take place in and with the slurry. As the slurry moves upward-ly along the wall 20, a portion of slurry in excess of the quantity of throughput is impelled by impulses.-fromkthe-rotating-ireel50ithrough the outlet conduit 45 .and the upflow passageway 41 andtfthe-v:`

downo'w passageway 42.2. The velocity, of' thi'sqflowa can be controlled'by positioning of the valve plate 46 or weir 48. Thecompartment-'40fand :the passageways 41iandf4-2 are so dimensioned.that-thereactions-are substantially completed therein: A portion of lthe slurry leaving the downow passageway 42 flows laterally across the compartment 43, and an output portion of clarified liquid separates from this owingslurry and .risesto the launder 25'and lso to the-'efH/uentconduit 26.. Another portion;

ingandreaction compartment .40 throughthe-inlet pas-f4` sagewy V44 in tlie direction of rotation of the slurry pass i ing fthe inlet s o. that k.this .return slurry is immediately mixedwitli rthe slurry v.circul'atingin thefcompartment 40k The slrryfsurface isv maintainedat the desiredelevationl.l

swept across; the "floor 11byj the. circulating-.slu-rry, but?, will'b'eiftoo .heavyto .be entrained :in the `slurry rising `along.:l the `walI .201and..will,.therefore, deposit. Such deposited..l

material. can be. blown .ott .through the drain. 127.

When the chambers 2li-2,1. arefoperated ini series; orl

. independentlyl o f .each Aother,` .the-.wall ,20g must 'extend to an .elevation above Vthe znormal lliquid-*levelas established:

byjthe Aovertlowledges.=of.v the launders 25, but when'thef chambers 21".-21.are `operatedjinparallel, the Vwall 20neer:l-' not extendtothe top,r of thetank; as shownfbut'mayter'f'- minatetlat about .thelrlower.. end ofl plate: 34; Howevery.. extendingihe-wall 20 to .-the.top.l of -the tank lhas the -advan-:f tage thatl the. twogfchambers 2li can .bei drained independf'f' ently vofleachother,. .eaeh-..bein.g provided with: a.: drain'. The onesidedapparatus shown in Figurel 4-'is.,substa11;:`

to 3. One side wall 14a of the tank 10a oflthis embodi-'F mentfis inclinedzupgwardly androutwardlyfrom the flt bot; tomfllz, andi itszupperiportionflmay be-v vertieal.- The' other side wall-15a Sis* vertical Jthroughoutt- Thev` reel 50ans this embodimentfis'aXiallyioffset to 3adjacentI theside wall-1v length my invention i provid'es- `uniforrrr. mixing of liquid; reagenti' andslirrryfand an equalizedV rotational fl'w patI tern throughout the length of 'themixing andreaction compartment;asweliias'ruifrm circulation from all partsof l theeln'gatediming andtreaction" chamber through theA secondary reaction compartment and the separatingqcompartment, :back to" theV mixing, andfreactin compartment., The' apparatus can vbe vdesigned. with Va standardvertical section," and anydesired'tbroughpnt capacity can besoin-- tainedby'inceasing the length of the apparatus:without-1 changingthe :relations of. height .and-width of thezvarious parts.' Y s apparatus can be used equally well for parallel, sequential,

Fo'rkreltively. smallffthroughputi capacities the singlersidd forni of Figure AjSadvantageous; The-double sided-rry or entirely independent treatment in the two chambers 21, and is more economical than two separate apparatuses affording the same throughput capacity. In parallel treatment half of the liquid to be treated is treated in each chamber 21 in the same manner. In sequential treatment the liquid to be treated ilows in sequence through the two chambers 21 and can be treated therein with the same or with different reagents. For example, co'agulants can be used as treating reagent in one chamber 21, and the liquid can thereafter be treated with softening reagents in the other chamber 21; or split treatment can be carried out by treating only a portion of the liquid, for example, with coagulant in one chamber 21 and another portion, for example, with softening reagents in the other chamber 21 and mixing the clarified efliuents of both chambers. Where the treated water is used for purposes needing a different degree, and often also kind, of treatment, such as boiler makeup and process water, or where the water to be treated comes from different sources necessitating diiierent degree and kind of treatment, such as different waste waters of the same plant, or a hard but clear well water and a turbid less hard surface water, independent treatment can be given to the two waters in the two chambers 21.

I claim:

1. In a liquid treating apparatus ofthe type specied a chamber of generally rectangular section in plan, partition means dividing said chamber into a mixing and reaction compartment, a secondary `mixing and reaction compartment, and a separation compartment connected for iiow therethrough in the sequence cited, each of said compartments extending for the full length of said chamber, said mixing and reaction compartment having a iioor and a vertical wall extending therefrom, said partition means including a vertically extending portion forming with said vertical wall an outlet passageway leading from said mixing and reaction compartment adjacent said wall to said secondary mixing and reaction compartment, inlet means for liquid to be treated and reagent discharging into said mixing and reaction compartment, an elongated rotor mounted in said mixing and reaction compartment in position axially offset toward said passageway, said rotor having radial blades rotatable in the space underneath said passageway in close proximity to said iioor and said wall and adapted, upon rotation, yto pump liquid substantially in excess of the input quantity of liquid from ysaid mixing and reaction compartment through said passageway and successively through the other two compartments, and also to set up within said mixing and reaction compartment a parallel equalized circulation of liquid over its entire length, an inlet passageway leading from said separation compartment into said mixing and reaction compartment remote from said outlet passageway, a treated liquid outlet from the upper part of said separation compartment, and a solids outletv from a lower portion of said chamber.

2. In a slurry type'liquid treating apparatus comprising an elongated tank, elongated partition means including two opposed partition members slanting upwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said tank, said partition means extending for the full length of, and forming in, said tank two mixing and reaction compartments underneath said slanting members, two separating compartments overlying said slanting members, an uptlow passageway from a portion of each mixing and reaction compartment adjacent the longitudinal axis of said tank leading upwardly to an elevation higher than the top of said slanting partition members, a downow passageway from said elevation to each of said separating compartments, and an inlet channel into a lower portion of each mixing and reaction compartment remote fromsaid longitudinal axis and communicating said lower portion withthe overlying separating compartment, means for withdrawing treated liquid from an upper portion of each separating compartment, means for ,withdrawing solids from a lower portionof each separating compartment, a reel in each mixing and reaction compartment and extending for its length, each reel comprising a horiupwardly underneath and adjacent said upow passage? way, each reel, upon its rotation, setting up in said mixing and reaction compartment aparallel equalized circulation of liquid over its entire length and simultaneously pumping liquid into and through said upflow passageway, said downow passageway, said separating chamber and said inlet channel, back to said mixing and reaction chamber, and means for introducing liquid to be treated and re-` agent into said mixing and reaction chambers.

3. In a liquid treating apparatus of the type specified, an elongated mixing and reaction chamber having a floor and one wall at to said iloor, partition means including a slanting member forming a secondary reaction chamber above said mixing and reaction chamber and a separating chamber overlying a portion of the mixing and reaction chamber and separated therefrom by said slanting member, an outlet passageway leading from said mixing and reaction chamber to the secondary reaction chamber, said passageway being bounded on one side by said wall and on the other by said partition means, a rotor having radial blades extending lengthwise of the mixing and reaction chamber and positioned to rotate its blades underneath said outlet passageway in close tangential relation to said floor and said wall, said rotor pumping liquid upwardly along said wall and eifecting a circulation of the liquid within said mixing and reaction chamber and ejection of liquid in excess of the quantity of throughput from said mixing and reaction `chamber through said outlet passageway, through said secondary reaction chamber to said separating chamber, an elongated passageway between the lower edge of the slanting member of said partition and said floor for returning a portion of the liquid so circulated from said separating chamber to said mixing and reaction chamber, means for taking olf treated liquid from the upper portion of said separating chamber, means for introducing liquid to be treated and reagent into said mixing and reaction chamber, means for withdrawing solids from a lower portion of said tank, and means for rotating said rotor blades upwardly adjacent said wall, thereby causing an upward ilow underneath and adjacent said outlet passageway and a downward iiow adjacent said elongated passageway.

4. A slurry type liquid treating apparatus comprising an elongated chamber having a bottom and vertically extending side walls, one of said side walls being at 90 to said bottom, means for withdrawing treated liquid froman upper portion of said chamber, said means establishingl the normal liquid level in said chamber, means for with-y drawing solids from a lower portion of said chamber, an

elongated hood extending lengthwise of said chamber, a first passageway between said hood and said one side wall, a second passageway between said hood and the other side wall, a plate extending upwardly from the apex of said hood to an elevation below the normal liquid level in said chamber, a second plate spaced horizontally from said first plate and extending downwardly from an elevation above the normal liquid level in said chamber to an elevation spaced above said hood, a reel under said hood comprising a horizontally extending rotatable shaft and a plurality of radial blades supported from said shaft, said reel being mounted in axially offset position with respect to said hood toward said first passageway suiciently that said blades extend into the space underneath said rst passageway and rotate adjacent and tangential to said one side wall and to the floor of said chamber, and means for rotating said shaft in such direction that said blades move upwardly underneath and adjacent said first passageway, whereby liquid is pumped upwardly into and through said first passageway and over said iirst plate.

5. Apparatus of the type described comprising a tankV batting a substantially flat Yrectangular bottom, vertical fend wallsf'and sidel'wallsslopingat least in part .outwardl'yand upwardly, A'a centrally',V located verticallwall 'dividing .said tanliirfto two laterally",y adjacent elongated chambers, each.

off'said 'chambers having ,an overw forclariti'edLliquid,

means'Jfor :withdawin-'gsolidsi from a lower, portion of.' thefchambe'rya drain, partition means providingtinthe. ch'a'riib" rf a mixingand reaction compartment, -a secondaryrea'ctioriflcompartinent having-van upflw section and: a.

dofwnflow section, ,and a separating compartment, each .of saidcompartmentsextendingfor the ful-llength of.- said. chamber, saidinixirig and'reaction compartment commu,- nicting with' 'the upow section ofv said secondaryv reaction compartment Vthrough an outlet passageway formed by said vertical'wali'andalportion of "saidl partitionmeans, and colu'n'unicatingY with `said 'separating compartment through an inlet' passageway. formed byone of said slopingtside walls" and va portion of said'partiticn means, said downf jacent .`said"'vertical wall'andisaid outlet passageway, and.

means'for rotatingsaid reel.

6'. Theapparatus ofclaim S'Wherein said'inlet means for liquidjto be. treated'includes a centrally located -elongatedtroughcommon to both laterally adjacent chambers, and aplurality of conduits leadingfrom spaced points on both'lsides of .said trough to themixing and reaction com. partments in said'chamber's.

7".` Apparatusof the type described Vcomprising an elon-` gatedltank, two laterally adjacent elongated chambers in said tank having a common side wall,` means for withdrawing clarified liquidfromsaid chambers, means for withdrawing solds' from a lower portion of each chamber, a common 'inlet' trough dischargingl to both chambers, elongatedpartition means forminga mixing and reaction compartment in the lower portion of'each chamber, the lower edge of'said partition means being spaced from the bottom of said tank to form inlet channels into said'mixingand reaction compartments, a passageway'leading from each mixingand Vreaction compartment upwardly alongsaid common side wall to an elevation above said partition meansand discharging fromsaid elevation downwardly over .saidpartition means, a reel ineach mixing and reactioncompartment, said reels extending for .the length of saidcompartments and being axially oset with regard to 'said compartments toward said passageway, means for rotating said reels upwardly underneath said passageway l and: adjacent said common side Wall whereby liquid .is pumped upwardly into and .through said passageway, and means for introducing reagent into. said mixing and reaction compartments.

8; Apparatus of the type described comprising a tank having a substantially 'at rectangular bottom, vertical end walls and side walls sloping at least in part outwardly and upwardly, a centrally located vertical 'wall dividing said tanklintotwo laterally adjacent elongated chambers, each of isaid-'chambers having an'overflow for claried liquid, means for-withdrawing solids from a lower portion of the chamber, a drain, partition means'providing in the chamberia mixing and reaction compartment, a secondary reaction compartment havingan upflow-section and a downowfsectiomand aseparatingcompartrnent, eachy of said compartments extendingior the 'full -length of said chamber, said partition means including two oppositely slanting plates-'forming al hood, a vertical plate' extending from the apex of said hood and providing anelongated overilow at anelevation-ibelow-theelevel`of said' overow' for'claried liquid, and a second .vertical plate spacedlaterall'yA `from` said first plate .and extending tov .ant.elevationaabove-said overow for clarified liquid,`said mixingandreactioncome.. partment communicating with .the..upflow sectionfo-fsaid. secondary reaction compartment through an outlet passage;y way ormedby` said'verticalwall andaportion offsaidupartition means, and communicatingwith saidseparatingg` compartment through aninlet passagewayrformedbyi one. of said Vslopingl side walls andaportionof,saidzpartitionr. means, said'downflow section .discharging ,to saidseparatff.

ing compartment, means for. introducingl liquid4 tm be,v

treated and reagent into saidlmixing.andreactioncorrb partment, an `elongated reelmountedirrsaid mixingnand,y reaction compartment in. axially. offset position, said zreel...

having` blades rotatable adjacent andtangentiallyjto-said,

bottom and upwardly adjacent saidfverticalfwalland said outlet passageway, and means for 1'otating.,said-reel`..

9. Apparatus of the type.described,comprisinga. tank'- having a substantially flat rectangular. bottom.,l vertical.-rv

end walls and side walls sloping yatfleast-.in part outwardlyf and upwardly, acentrally locatedvertical wall dividing,

said tank into two laterally, adjacent .elongated chambers,

each of`said chambers having an overow for clarified liquid, means for withdrawing solids from ,a lower portion of the chamber, a drain, partition meansdncludinga hood,v` providingin the chamber a mixing.:and..reaction:comv partment, a secondary reaction. compartment havingq an,-

upiiow section anda downow section, anda separating,vr compartment, each of said t compartments extending-#fors the full length of saidl chamber, said mixingand-reaction compartment being located..underneathcsaid. hood andal communicatingl with the .upilow section vof t said` secondary.A

reaction compartment through! an. outlet passageway -l formed by said'vertical wall'andaportion of saidpartifv tion means, and communicatingwith saidseparating com-.-

partment through an.. inlet passagewayformed by oneV of said sloping side walls and a-portionof saidpartition. means, said downilow section discharging; to saidsepa-rating compartment, an elongatedreel .mounted insaid- .mixel ing and reaction compartment inaxially offset position, said reel having blades rotatablev adjacent andtangentially to said bottom and upwardly adjacent saidverticaltwallf and said outlet passageway, means for rotating3saidreel',- and means for introducingliquidv to be treatedanclre-y agent into said mixing and. reaction.compartment,.,saidAv inlet means for liquid to be treated including -an elongated trough formed by a-oor across theapexcf said.

hood, said floor being spaced from one side :of the hood to form therebetween `a slotdischarging-` in thefdirection of the ilow set up by rotation of saidreel.V

10. Apparatus of the type .describedcomprising a tank, having a substantially ilat rectangular bottom,r vertical A` end walls and side walls slopingat least in .part outwardlyyV and upwardly, a centrallyflocated vertical wall dividingy'said' tank into two laterally adjacent .elongated chambers,

each of said chambers having. an. overflow,forclarifiedV liquid, means for withdrawing solids from alowerportion t of the chamber, a drain,.partition meansproviding; inthe,V

chamber a mixing and Vreaction compartment, a-secondary: reaction compartment having an upow section-and. ai.. downiiow section, and aV separating, compartment, -.each`.A

of said compartments extending fory the full -lengthof said.

chamber, said mixingand reaction'.compartmentrcommunicatingwith the upflow sectionA ofy said` secondary' formed by said vertical wall .anda portion .of-saidpartif tion means, and communicating with said `:separating compartment through an inlet passageway formedby yone of. said sloping side walls and aportion of .saidpartition means, said downow section dischargingtosaid separat y ing compartment, means for` establishing a circulation.` within said'mixing and reaction'compartmentand for'. pumping liquid from said mixing ,and .reactioncomparb ment through said secondary reactioncompartmentto, "said separating compartment, and'means for introducing reaction compartment throughV an outlet `passagewayiv l liquid to be treated and reagent into said mixing and reaction compartment, said means for introducing reagent including an elongated trough in the upper portion of said chamber, a pump having its intake in said upilow section, a conduit leading from the discharge side of said pump to said trough, a chemical inlet line discharging to said conduit, and a plurality of downtake pipes leading from spaced points along said trough to said mixing and reaction chamber.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hughes June 17, 1941 Montgomery et al Nov. 25, 1941 Gurney Apr. 25, 1944 Green May 2, 1944 Green et a1. May 2, 1944 Green May 30, 1950 Parker May 30, 1950 Hoifman et al Oct. 17, 1950 McAllister Mar. 31, 1953 

1. IN A LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS OF THE TYPE SPECIFIED A CHAMBER OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SECTION IN PLAN, PARTITION MEANS DIVIDING SAID CHAMBER INTO A MIXING AND REACTION COMPARTMENT, A SECONDARY MIXING AND REACTION COMPARTMENT, AND A SEPARATION COMPARTMENT CONNECTED FOR FLOW THERETHROUGH IN THE SEQUENCE CITED, EACH OF SAID COMPARTMENTS EXTENDING FOR THE FULL LENGTH OF SAID CHAMBER, SAID MIXING AND REACTION COMPARTMENT HAVING A FLOOR AND A VERTICAL WALL EXTENDING THEREFROM, SAID PARTITION MEANS INCLUDING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING PORTION FORMING WITH SAID VERTICAL WALL AN OUTLET PASSAGWWAY LEADING FROM THE SAID MIXING AND REACTION COMPARTMENT ADJACENT SAID WALL TO SAID SECONDARY MIXING AND REACTION COMPARTMENT, INLET MEANS FOR LIQUID TO BE TREATED AND REAGENT DISCHARGING INTO SAID MIXING AND REACTION COMPARTMENT, AN ELONGATED ROTOR MOUNTED IN SAID MIXING AND REACTION COMPARTMENT IN POSITION AXIALLY OFFSET TOWARD SAID PASSAGEWAY, SAID ROTOR HAVING RADICAL BLADES ROTATABLE IN THE SPACED UNDERNEATH SAID PASSAGEWAY IN CLOSED PROXIMITY TO SAID FLOOR AND SAID WALL AND ADAPTED, UPON ROTATION, TO PUMP LIQUID SUBSTANTIALLY IN EXCESS OF THE INPUT QUANTITY FORM LIQUID FROM SAID MIXING AND REACTION COMPARTMENT THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAY AND SUCCESSIVELY THROUGH THE OTHER TWO COMPARTMENTS, AND ALSO TO SET UP WITHIN SAID MIXING AND REACTION COMPARTMENT A PARALLEL EQUALIZED CIRCULATION OF LIQUID OVER ITS ENTIRE LENGTH, AN INLET PASSAGEWAY LEADING FROM SAID SEPARATION COMPARTMENT INTO SAID MIXING AND REACTION COMPARTMENT REMOTE FROM SAID OUTLET PASSAGEWAY, A TREATED LIQUID OUTLET FROM THE UPPER PART OF SAID SEPARATION COMPARTMENT, AND A SOLIDS OUTLET FROM A LOWER PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER. 